The Three Kingdoms: The entire Cao Cao camp thought I was weak and frail.

"Times have changed," Sun Ce explained earnestly. "That day, I was blinded by hatred. If we truly reconcile and become friends, I, Sun Ce, swear to heaven that I would never resort to such petty acts as settling scores later!"

Guo Jia gave a noncommittal shrug.

He believed Sun Ce was telling the truth, but that didn't mean he could forgive the kid for cursing Yan Ruo.

Xun Hao, who was standing to the side, spoke up at this moment.

He had been bothered by Zhou Yu's comment about Guo Jia's short life, but seeing Sun Ce's frank attitude, his displeasure shifted to Zhou Yu, who stood silently behind Sun Ce with a smile.

"Even if General Sun keeps his promise, so what?"

Xun Hao's voice was clear and cold, "Even with such a forthright nature as the general, doesn't he always obey someone's every word?"

Zhou Yu's smile faltered slightly.

Xun Hao continued, "What if one day, 'someone' takes a dislike to me and Brother Fengxiao, and whispers in the General's ear? Wouldn't we then truly be fulfilling the prophecy that we 'won't live past forty'?"

Sun Ce turned around in surprise and looked at his close friend, "Gongjin is not a petty person."

"See? Before the words of recruitment were even finished, you were already defending Zhou Gongjin. In your heart, Gongjin's importance far outweighs that of us 'outsiders,' isn't it?" Xun Hao raised his chin.

Sun Ce opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.

He wanted to say no, but what Xun Hao said was true. He wanted to say that Gongjin was indeed not that kind of person, but at this moment, it seemed like the more he explained, the worse it would get.

Xun Hao stopped looking at him, turned around with Guo Jia, and walked leisurely towards their own courtyard.

"Were you trying to sow discord between them just now?" Guo Jia lowered his voice, turning his head to look at Xun Hao beside him, his peach blossom eyes filled with curiosity.

"Am I being ridiculous?" Xun Hao said without looking at him. "The two of them are so close they're practically inseparable. No one can drive a wedge between them."

Guo Jia paused, his eyes widening in surprise. He leaned close to Xun Hao's ear, his voice lowered, carrying a hint of ambiguity.

"You mean, they... are like us?"

Xun Hao also stopped in his tracks.

He turned his head, his clear eyes calmly looking at Guo Jia. "I don't think so. How can they compare to us?"

Guo Jia was taken aback.

Xun Hao continued, "We understand each other perfectly; a single glance is enough for us to know what the other is thinking. Can Sun Bofu comprehend the intricacies of Zhou Gongjin's strategy? He can only obey orders; if he's told to go east, he'd never dare to go west."

After saying that, he ignored Guo Jia, who was standing there in a daze, and walked straight ahead.

Guo Jia's lips curled up uncontrollably. He quickened his pace, caught up with Xun Hao, and naturally reached out to put his arm around the other's shoulder.

"That's right, they can't compare to us."

In the courtyard, Sun Ce was still standing there, his brows furrowed.

"Gongjin, I..." He looked at Zhou Yu approaching, his face full of regret, "Did I say something wrong again?"

"Your recruitment was truly sincere." Zhou Yu's gaze returned from the courtyard gate where the two had disappeared, a hint of inquiry in his eyes.

"Of course!" Sun Ce replied immediately. "My word is my bond! I said that if they come to surrender, I will treat them with the utmost respect, and I have never broken my promise!"

"But they never even considered switching sides." Zhou Yu shook his head, a bitter smile on his lips. "Those words just now were just talk, meant for Lü Bu's ears."

"Huh?" Sun Ce was completely dumbfounded.

Zhou Yu pulled him to sit on a stone bench in the courtyard before slowly beginning to analyze the situation for him.

"Think carefully about what Xun Yanruo said when Lü Bu recruited him."

Sun Ce tried hard to recall: "He said... if he had to choose between Marquis Wen and Minister Wang, he would naturally lean towards Marquis Wen."

"Yes, that's the problem." Zhou Yu tapped his fingers lightly on the stone table. "He only said he was comparing Wang Yun and Lü Bu, and his conclusion leaned towards Lü Bu. But did he ever consider his current lord, Cao Mengde, in that comparison?"

Sun Ce's eyes slowly widened.

"He never said who he would choose between Cao Cao and Lü Bu," Zhou Yu continued his analysis. "He simply used a clever remark to give Lü Bu a seemingly hopeful answer, thus creating a relationship of opposition and competition between Lü Bu and Wang Yun."

Sun Ce's eyes slowly widened.

Seeing Lü Bu listening attentively, Zhou Yu's eyes softened. "He made Lü Bu feel that as long as he solved the task assigned by Cao Cao, he would have a chance."

"What will he do?" Sun Ce pressed.

"It's very simple. Lü Bu has a voice before the emperor. If he wants, Cao Cao's appointment as governor of Yan Province can be made in an instant, and their mission will be accomplished. The two of them are so meticulous in their thinking and sharp in their words that they should not be underestimated."

Sun Ce suddenly realized.

With just one sentence from Xun Hao, Lü Bu was willing to work for Cao Cao.

As for Wang Yun? Seeing that the talent he had his eye on was about to be snatched away by Lü Bu, he would naturally intensify his efforts to win him over.

In this way, Xun Hao and Guo Jia's task was completed almost effortlessly.

Sun Ce remained silent.

He recalled that yesterday, at the Situ residence, he had pointed his finger at the other man and said that he was prone to shortening his lifespan.

Looking back now, how ridiculous it seems.

If you go against this kind of person, you probably won't live to see the day your life is cut short.

"And what about us?" Sun Ce's brows furrowed again. "What about our appointments?"

"This is what we need to do next." Zhou Yu stood up, his gaze fixed on the direction of the Situ Mansion. "Wang Yun is stubborn, but he is no ordinary man. What he lacks most right now is soldiers, generals who can defend Chang'an for him. Although Lü Bu is brave, he is unruly, and Wang Yun cannot fully trust him. This is our opportunity."

He turned back to look at Sun Ce, his eyes gleaming with a calm light.

"We will use the approaching Xiliang army as a bargaining chip to exchange for another condition."

The Situ Mansion.

When Zhou Yu and Sun Ce stood before Wang Yun again, the atmosphere was different.

Wang Yun sat high in the main seat, his expression arrogant. "What brings you two here today?"

"To share Lord Situ's burdens." Zhou Yu stood tall and graceful, bowing with his hands clasped in greeting.

Wang Yun sneered, "What worries do I have that you need to share?"

"Your Majesty's worries lie within, with Marquis Wen's achievements overshadowing your own and making him difficult to control. Without, the remnants of the Western Liang forces hold considerable military power and are eyeing you covetously," Zhou Yu analyzed the situation with conviction.

Wang Yun's face darkened.

"Bo Fu is willing to guard the gates of Chang'an for you, sir, and defend against the Western Liang army. I only ask that you petition the Emperor to grant me an official appointment so that I may rightfully command my former troops."

Wang Yun narrowed his eyes.

He did indeed need a general who could rival Lü Bu, and he knew of Sun Ce's bravery. But he was unwilling to accept the appointment so easily.

"I need to consider this matter for a few days." He picked up his teacup, gesturing as if to see the guest out.

Zhou Yu seemed to have anticipated this, and was not in a hurry, only smiling faintly.